Former Manchester United great Gary Neville has thrown down the gauntlet to Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, urging them to elevate their game if the team hopes to reclaim its former glory. Following a lackluster 1-1 draw against Chelsea, where Bruno Fernandes scored from the penalty spot only for Moises Caicedo to equalize, Neville's comments come at a critical juncture. The Red Devils find themselves languishing in 13th place after winning just three of their first ten Premier League matches this season.

With expectations running high, Manchester United is set to welcome new manager Ruben Amorim on November 11, just ahead of the next international break. Supporters are hopeful that the Portuguese tactician can inspire a turnaround. However, Neville believes that immediate improvements could be made through the players' own hard work and dedication.

On his Sky Sports podcast, Neville remarked, “I’m not trying to single out Rashford and Garnacho, but they both need to raise their efforts. As academy graduates, they have earned a certain level of credit and enthusiasm from the fans, but that can't excuse underperformance.

He drew comparisons with star players with other clubs, stating, “When I see the likes of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal, or Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva at Manchester City, they are constantly working back to support the defense and battling for every ball. This is a level of commitment that I don’t always see consistently from Rashford and Garnacho.”

Neville highlighted that football success is often a result of hard work and unity, saying, “Under my tenure, the effort off the ball was just as crucial as what happened on it. You get rewarded for the hard work you put in defensively as it translates into opportunities at the other end. I'm not claiming Rashford and Garnacho are lazy, but they can definitely push themselves even harder.”

The former defender emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “It’s essential for the whole squad to look after each other on the pitch; that fighting spirit should be present throughout the match. It’s time for Rashford and Garnacho to mold their games similarly to their counterparts in the league, who are setting the standards in terms of work rate.”

As Manchester United faces a pivotal moment in their season, will Garnacho and Rashford heed Neville’s call? Time will tell if the Red Devils can turn their fortunes around and return to the upper echelons of the Premier League!